Farming is a stressful occupation when times are good. Volatile commodity markets, skyrocketing energy costs (gas and farm fuel prices), record fertilizer prices, shortages of certain pesticides, lime, machinery parts, and other essential agricultural-related inputs, in addition to the ever-present uncertainties of the weather, are just a few issues that are weighing heavily on the minds of farmers these days.
You may have noticed some farmers struggle with situations others find easy to handle. Research in stress management has identified three key factors in managing stress. First, individuals vary in their ability to tolerate stress. For example, prolonged exertion and fatigue that may be mildly stressful to young farmers may prove to be more challenging to older farmers or farmers with health issues. A second factor is feeling in control of the situation and learning how to accept circumstances that arise on the farm out of your control. Finally, our attitudes and perceptions of events play a large role in how we handle stress. For example, awakening in the middle of the night by a blaring horn, is it just a passing motorist sounding a warning because of deer along the roadside, or are your cows out in the roadway? A person must see a situation as stressful in order to experience stress.
The following are tips you may find helpful when handling stress:
Control your events
- Don’t procrastinate; plan ahead.
- Set priorities about what must be done today and what can wait till tomorrow.
- If possible, schedule stressful events within your control.
Control your attitudes
- See the big picture; in other words, “don’t sweat the small stuff.”
- Shift your focus from worrying to problem-solving.
- Turn problems into opportunities; when presented with lemons, make lemonade!
- Focus on what you have accomplished, not where you have failed. My college roommate at Clemson used to say; nothing beats a failure but a try.
- Set realistic goals and expectations.
Control your responses
- Listen to your body, notice early signs of stress, and take measures to deal with them.
- Take care of your body, get plenty of rest, exercise regularly, eat well-balanced meals and schedule regular health checkups.
- Look for the humor in things; my grandmother used to say, “Might as well laugh as to cry.”
- Unwind and relax before bedtime.
- Find someone you can talk with about the worries and frustrations you may be experiencing.
- Seek help when you need it. There are times when we all can benefit from professional support or help.
Learning how to control situations, attitudes and responses can help farmers and their families deal with stress during these unprecedented times in agriculture. Check out the links to the following mental health and wellness resources:
Clemson Farm Stress & Mental Health Website
https://www.clemson.edu/extension/agribusiness/farmstress/index.html
SC Farm Bureau Agriwellness Program
https://www.scfb.org/farmstress
A 5-Step Approach to Alleviating Farm Stress/ South Dakota State University
https://extension.purdue.edu/farmstress/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/5-Step-Approach-SDSU.pdf
Submitted by: Marion Barnes, Senior County Extension Agent, Clemson University
Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to people of all ages, regardless of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or family status and is an equal opportunity employer.
